| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 872 328 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
07.07.1999 Bulletin 1999/27 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
21.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/43 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 03.04.1998 |
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV MK RO SI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
14.04.1997 US 838891
|
| (71) |
Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION |
|
Rochester,
New York 14644 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Proper, James M.
Webster, NY 14580 (US)
- Burroughs, Anthony T.
Rochester, NY 14623 (US)
- Leonardo, Joseph L.
Penfield, NY 14526 (US)
- Knopp, Daniel R.
Williamson, NY 14589 (US)
- Devlin, Mark V.
Marion, NY 14505 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Rackham, Stephen Neil |
|
GILL JENNINGS & EVERY,
Broadgate House,
7 Eldon Street London EC2M 7LH London EC2M 7LH (GB) |
|
| |
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(57) A method and apparatus for successfully extruding polymers that have relatively high
Deborah numbers is disclosed. Specifically, the invention is directed to an extrusion
die for manufacturing viscoelastic and similar polymers while reducing or eliminating
die swell. These polymers typically exhibit Deborah numbers that are in the range
of 20 to 30 as compared to 1 to 5 of styrene butadiene, as well as high elasticity
or elastic modulus. The method and apparatus can be used to manufacture xerographic
toner that has a relatively low melting temperature, which can cause a reduction in
the power consumption of a printer or copier, and can increase the life of some of
the fuser components contained within the machine. More importantly, use of toner
particles created using the present invention can reduce or eliminate the phenomenon
known as "vinyl off set," which causes the transfer of a hard copy image onto a vinyl
material.